Snow day
As I sit here in the warmth of my kitchen, smelling the sweet aroma of baking granola, I feel particularly grateful to be inside while the elements rage outside. Snow day, what wonderful words. All the busyness of life comes to a screeching halt...
Who would you invite to dinner?
This week, Mackenzie downloaded a podcast to my phone that I thought was terrific. It made me laugh, feel sad, and prompted some deep reflection about the nature of relationships. It’s the story of a couple trying to work out differences in three binge-worthy...
How much are you willing to risk?
My husband Joe recently shared a few “promposal” stories with me, reminding me of the intense joy, courage and compassion felt by adolescents. For those of you unfamiliar with this time-honoured secondary school custom, promposals are the delivery of...
Welcoming new perspectives
I have a piece of wildlife art on my wall: a majestic stag, staring intensely at me from a forest glade. When I look at it, my body settles. In fact, when I’m on a break between sessions, I often sit on my couch and stare at this deer, looking at...
Getting out of your comfort zone
If you go on a trip, where do you like to go? To a beach resort, where cold drinks are brought to you by the side of a pool? Or backpacking through a mountain pass, discovering tiny flower buds as they push their way through barren soil towards the...
We are all affected by trauma.
Twenty years ago I did some time in a federal penitentiary. It’s not what you might think. I didn’t break the law. I was acting in the role of Chief Psychologist for four hundred federal male offenders. Trying to help them undo the harm they had done to...
What is joy exactly?
This is the question I have been asking myself recently. I know it isn’t the many photos I see on Facebook - of smiling people doing exciting things. I know enough to understand that these pictures don’t always tell the real story. Maybe...
Do I make a difference?
It’s a common question we ask ourselves, particularly during periods of change or transition. After years of service, taking off the uniform can mean a stripping of identity. “Who am I behind the uniform?” you may wonder. Growing up, I dreamed of changing the world,...
I’m so excited…
My New Year’s resolution is being realized. I committed to ensuring my work is filled with creativity and joy. Today marks a special part of that with the launch of our first veteran/first responder day treatment program. The program is full, and...
Finding fun in unexpected places
Just before Christmas, I had the chance to accompany a competitive girls basketball team to a tournament in Arizona. In addition to watching some great basketball, my husband Joe and I had the opportunity for a hike up Camelback Ridge, a famous trail in Echo Canyon...
